Malachi 2:10-16 (MSG)
22 April 2007
(Kenny Harris III’s Birthday)
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fort Ord Chapel
Seaside, California
BIG IDEA: God expects us to protect the spirit of marriage, within us, by not defrauding our spouses.
References: Malachi 2:10-16 (MSG); Deuteronomy 7:3-4 (ESV)You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, 4 for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods;
1 Cor. 7:5 (KJV) Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency; 1 Cor.7:1-16 (Apostle Paul discusses marriage); Proverbs 18:22 (KJV) Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD; Numbers 30:2 (KJV) If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth; Hebrew 13:4 (KJV) Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge; John 2:1-5 (KJV) - Jesus is present at wedding in Cana - (And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it); Deuteronomy 24:5 (KJV) When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken. Special Note (to our readers): The word defraud has at least nine definitions in the English Language. The definition that I have elected to utilize in both the “Big Idea” and “Purpose” is a verb and it means to “CHEAT”. In the Hebrew language it’s “baw-gad” which refers to an “unfaithful man”. However, the word “defraud” used by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 7:5 (above) refers to depriving or withholding back, which derives from the Greek word “ap-os-ter-eh-o.
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Malachi 2:10-16(MSG)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Malachi 2:10-16 (MSG)
III. READ THE TEXT: Malachi 2:14-15 (MSG) Do you know why? Simple. Because God was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your young bride, and now you’ve broken those vows, broken the faithbond with your vowed companion, your covenant wife. God, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that’s what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don’t cheat on your spouse.
IV. PURPOSE: Motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God expects believers NOT TO DEFRAUD (or cheat on) their spouses.
V. INTRODUCTION:
Now, before we begin , I would like to take time to shower praises and mega accolades upon our Garrison Commander – Colonel Pamela Martis – and my wife: Dedra Yvonne.
Recently, Colonel Martis was responsible for approving the United States Army First Ever Marriage Enrichment Retreat for Civilians, here, at the Presidio of Monterey; and Dedra was responsible for ensuring the 15 couples in attendance (at San Luis Obispo’s Embassy Suites Hotel) experienced a flawless life changing retreat.
If you were a participant in our Garrison Marriage Retreat, then you know exactly how deserving these two ladies are today.
Therefore, please join me in standing and giving these ladies a thunderous round of applause! With all of the chaos in marriage and dysfunctional relationships, it’s great to see firsthand - in 2007 - that “marriage is STILL important to some believers”.
In Colonel Martis’ absence, and in Dedra’s presence, I want to thank you so much for making the sacrifices you made to ensure the Garrison Marriage Retreat was of the most memorable moments in my life, and in the life of many others.
It was truly an unforgettable series of events. We learned the importance of “Marriage Fitness” as we collectively decided to “Put Love First”.
*****************TAKE 5 BEATS***************
MOVE 1: We experienced traveling together on the tour bus to Bispo Beach where we walked, shopped, and laughed while holding hands with our spouses.
a. And who can ever forget how we dined, renewed our vows, and slow danced to the Love Songs of Kenny Rodgers?
b. What an awesome experienced that was …
c. Nearly 24 years ago, I had my first and only experience reciting my “marriage vows” as a young 21 year old man.
d. I remember as if it was last week-end, … my hands dripped with sweat … my heart accelerated as I gave thoughts to the idea that DEDRA would soon stand beside me …
**************TAKE 5 BEATS***********
MOVE 2: In my mind, Dedra would be the wife of my youth; the wife of my Middle Age, and the wife of my Golden Years too.
a. In fact, I can still hear the original words of the late Bishop Lawrence Charles Callahan, Sr., (Founder of Philippian Community Church of Jacksonville, Florida) as he uttered, ..
b. Kenneth … do you take Dedra to be your beloved wife …
c. … to have and to hold … for better or for worse …
d. … forsaking all others … for the rest of your life …and I said to him … I DO.
e. But more importantly, my brothers and my sisters, as I uttered I DO to Dedra … in response to Bishop Callahan’s question, …
************TAKE 5 BEATS************
MOVE 3: I was also uttering I do to GOD.
a. In other words, I made a VOW to God that I would FORSAKE ALL OTHERS for DEDRA!
b. The word forsake means to abandon …
c. … to disown … to give up …
d. … to turn your back one … and to leave … all others …
e. In other words, … my VOWS included a promised NOT TO CHEAT … on Dedra!
***************TAKE 5 BEATS*********
MOVE 4: Now, the Bible says, in Numbers 30:2, “If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.”
a. In other words, it’s a dangerous thing to make a vow unto the LORD and NOT keep it!
b. In The Book of Malachi, today, which is separated from the Book of Mathew by more than 400 years, …
c. … we find that Marriage Vows (like in April 2007) were being broken left and right.
d. Jewish Men were marrying unbelievers who had zero knowledge of Israel’s God.
e. As a result, they were having children whom were not receiving training by their mothers to worship God and God alone.
f. Marriages, in Malachi’s Day, were responsible for the breakdown in Godly Focused Families and society becoming more and more immoral.
*************TAKE 5 BEATS************
MOVE 5: Believers spiritual lives were declining.
a. Bible Study attendance were plummeting.
b. Folks were able to watch sport entertainment for hours; but they wanted their sermons to be micro waved.
c. As one writer said, and I quote: “Couples were like passing ships in the night.
d. They were hardly speaking.
e. They were living as two instead of one?
f. Unfortunately many marriages, today, can be described in that same way.
*************TAKE 5 BEATS**********
MOVE 6: After the vows are spoken, Satan starts pulling tricks out his bag.
a. Jobs, mortgages, cars, children, daycare, in-laws, and a multiplicity of other life challenges and temptations can quickly take their toll on a loving relationship.
b. For don’t you remember, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, their actions not only brought the fall of man;
c. … but their fall introduced SIN into the marriage relationship.
d. And the devil has been present in our marriages ever since.”
e. He’s constantly advocating DIVORCE and BREAK-UP;
f. And as he did in Malachi’s day, the devil is constantly telling us that the grass is greener on the other side.
*************TAKE 5 BEATS*********
MOVE 7: He whispers that others would understand us better;
a. He reminds of how important we are and why we should NOT be tolerant of our spouses’ foibles or behavior flaws.
b. As he did with the FIRST COUPLES, he uses something that looks good and appealing to get our attention.
c. Perhaps in a job offer, outside of the city and away from the family that seemly we can’t refuse.
d. Or perhaps it’s a person on our job that we work long hours with on a regular basis who appears to really understand what we like and dislike more so than our spouses;
e. The devil uses what looks good and appealing to get our attention. But it ultimately causes friction, separation, and death to marriages.
f. Therefore, we should be aware that as the devil is present and causing havoc;
**********TAKE 5 BEATS*********
MOVE 8: Jesus is present and desires to bring wholeness to broken relationships. Just as Jesus was the invisible guest at our wedding;
a. He remains the glue that desires to keep us together in LOVE. He alone can change the attitudes of our hearts – if we let him.
b. Someone said that God desires that we balance the GOOD THINGS WITH THE RIGHT THINGS.
c. Our spouses need our respect and they need our time.
d. We need to intentionally SACRIFICE all others … mothers, fathers, children, and jobs … for the one we have been blessed to marry.
e. We are to protect the spirit of marriage within us by allowing our Invisible Guest, Jesus Christ, to guide and lead us in caring for one another.
************TAKE 5 BEATS**********
CELEBRATION:
For remember, God, not you, made marriage.
And, “His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage.
And what does he want from marriage?
Children of God, that what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you.
Don’t cheat on your spouse.
